File:Working Theory of Viral infection.png

English: A proposed working theory of how viral lysis and host resistance occurs. The hexagons represent virus capsids and the black circles represent glycosphingolipid (GSL) rafts. Viruses enter the cell through the GSL rafts and go on to replicate and transcribe viral GSL. The infection produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) which can induce the transcription of caspases and metacaspases needed for programmed cell death (PCD). Emiliania huxleyi can control ROS by producing dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP) and related compounds which seek out and deactivate ROS, thus preventing or postponing PCD and lysis. Other infochemicals may play a role in changing the behaviour of the surrounding population, such as differentiating into a resistant haploid phase.